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University of Nevada, Las Vegas -f The Rebel Thursday, August 3 1 , 2006 unlvrebelyell.com Vol. 52, No. 8 Ifs arar!:aQomini,5: thing UNLV alumni forge entertainment futures : By Lindsay Johnson The Rebel Yell Magic. When we hear the word, distinct images rush into our minds and play over and over ; like the fantasy movies of our childhood. Fantasy. Instantly we're filled f with the hope that there's j something greater than us out ; there, and with it comes a fit of ; overwhelming nostalgia for the lost childlike innocence that ; believes in the impossible. "The NeverEnding Story." ; "Labyrinth." "The Dark Crystal." "Legend." These i films gave us a sweet escape from our sometimes troubling child and adolescent years. They gave us something to ' believe in. Perhaps, that's why ! most recently, epic fantasy I productions like "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy and "Harry Potter" series are wildly successful: we want something extraordinary to believe in again. During their sophomore year at UNLV, Dallas Fueston and Justin Durr involved with CSUN and the Greek system and thus a part of nearly every skit and variety show production on campus began creating fantasy characters like the ones from favorite childhood stories based on their on-stage alter egos. When Fueston took the stage to perform magic, which he had been doing professionally since the age of 16, he became Adamas, a captivating wizard that mesmerized any audience. And Durr, a remarkably gifted dancer and Usher-look-alike, would morph into Darkcurse, an evil king with a spellbinding dance. The Delta Chi fraternity brothers shared a fascination with the origin of magic and how it affects people. They knew they would not win anyone's heart with magic tricks or elaborate illusions alone. Rather, they wanted to inspire people to believe in something again, and that's what led them to create The Xcentrix: a fantasy atmosphere art form and stage act complete with fantasy creatures, dance and mind-blowing magic. Together they designed characters like Ponzo, a mysteriously silent, white, furry creature with huge green eyeballs at the end of his arms. They spent hours together researching tricks, rehearsed their live stage act, scrutinized magic products and manufacturers and wrote the back-story of the characters. "Rather than trying to make people believe it's real, we just want to entertain them," Durr, 27, said. "The concepts are based on things we would have liked to have been or had as kids, like 'Labyrinth' or Michael Jackson's 'Thriller.'" Now, UNLV alumnus, assistant magician and dancer for Dirk Arthur Extreme Magic, Durr is still working on perfecting the theatrics of The Xcentrix with Fueston. "People see magic shows like Criss Angel 'Mindfreak' and wonder if it's real," UNLV MAGIC: Pg 14 l ' -i . vr : r J 3 ...... . . Courtesy Photo -. - .. . -- j Local artist Eddie Bush, one of many UNLV alumni seeking fame in the entertainment industry, is shown with his works in his downtown studio. , , , , , - - ' " -. no. ;-" L I I MM M I I III HI' - - I I I II ' "Maybe The Rebel Yell , zz L tne only legitimate lrA newspaper in Las Vegas! " ! :" j - Mayor Oscar B. Goodman Home game weekend New season, new opportunity to dominate. UNLV plays Idaho State Saturday. Page 20 As a student at UNLV, Dallas Fueston was a part of part of nearly every skit and variety show production on campus, and with his friend Justin Durr, began creating fantasy characters like the ones from favorite childhood stories based on their on-stage alter egos. The graduate now performs magic tricks like the one he displays for a crowd of onlookers in this photo. Courtesy Photo Hustling for the man Las Vegas wedding hustlers share a secret world beyond the chapel. Page 8 t. -V

University of Nevada, Las Vegas -f The Rebel Thursday, August 3 1 , 2006 unlvrebelyell.com Vol. 52, No. 8 Ifs arar!:aQomini,5: thing UNLV alumni forge entertainment futures : By Lindsay Johnson The Rebel Yell Magic. When we hear the word, distinct images rush into our minds and play over and over ; like the fantasy movies of our childhood. Fantasy. Instantly we're filled f with the hope that there's j something greater than us out ; there, and with it comes a fit of ; overwhelming nostalgia for the lost childlike innocence that ; believes in the impossible. "The NeverEnding Story." ; "Labyrinth." "The Dark Crystal." "Legend." These i films gave us a sweet escape from our sometimes troubling child and adolescent years. They gave us something to ' believe in. Perhaps, that's why ! most recently, epic fantasy I productions like "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy and "Harry Potter" series are wildly successful: we want something extraordinary to believe in again. During their sophomore year at UNLV, Dallas Fueston and Justin Durr involved with CSUN and the Greek system and thus a part of nearly every skit and variety show production on campus began creating fantasy characters like the ones from favorite childhood stories based on their on-stage alter egos. When Fueston took the stage to perform magic, which he had been doing professionally since the age of 16, he became Adamas, a captivating wizard that mesmerized any audience. And Durr, a remarkably gifted dancer and Usher-look-alike, would morph into Darkcurse, an evil king with a spellbinding dance. The Delta Chi fraternity brothers shared a fascination with the origin of magic and how it affects people. They knew they would not win anyone's heart with magic tricks or elaborate illusions alone. Rather, they wanted to inspire people to believe in something again, and that's what led them to create The Xcentrix: a fantasy atmosphere art form and stage act complete with fantasy creatures, dance and mind-blowing magic. Together they designed characters like Ponzo, a mysteriously silent, white, furry creature with huge green eyeballs at the end of his arms. They spent hours together researching tricks, rehearsed their live stage act, scrutinized magic products and manufacturers and wrote the back-story of the characters. "Rather than trying to make people believe it's real, we just want to entertain them," Durr, 27, said. "The concepts are based on things we would have liked to have been or had as kids, like 'Labyrinth' or Michael Jackson's 'Thriller.'" Now, UNLV alumnus, assistant magician and dancer for Dirk Arthur Extreme Magic, Durr is still working on perfecting the theatrics of The Xcentrix with Fueston. "People see magic shows like Criss Angel 'Mindfreak' and wonder if it's real," UNLV MAGIC: Pg 14 l ' -i . vr : r J 3 ...... . . Courtesy Photo -. - .. . -- j Local artist Eddie Bush, one of many UNLV alumni seeking fame in the entertainment industry, is shown with his works in his downtown studio. , , , , , - - ' " -. no. ;-" L I I MM M I I III HI' - - I I I II ' "Maybe The Rebel Yell , zz L tne only legitimate lrA newspaper in Las Vegas! " ! :" j - Mayor Oscar B. Goodman Home game weekend New season, new opportunity to dominate. UNLV plays Idaho State Saturday. Page 20 As a student at UNLV, Dallas Fueston was a part of part of nearly every skit and variety show production on campus, and with his friend Justin Durr, began creating fantasy characters like the ones from favorite childhood stories based on their on-stage alter egos. The graduate now performs magic tricks like the one he displays for a crowd of onlookers in this photo. Courtesy Photo Hustling for the man Las Vegas wedding hustlers share a secret world beyond the chapel. Page 8 t. -V